When it comes to Valentine's Day gifts, Chris and I keep it pretty simple. We look forward to the nice dinner reservation and meaningful gift exchange, but we mostly keep it simple and sprinkle some extra love towards the girls. Regardless, I look forward to Valentine's Day because I find myself craving a little Holiday […]
This post and project are sponsored by Lowe’s Home Improvement. Welcome to the attic! This is where we have been storing Holiday decor, bins of family keepsakes, lampshades without lamps, and all our dirty little secrets… In all honesty, this has been a clutter crutch in our home since moving in, and it has been desperate […]
We have been hard at work for the last weekend, decluttering and purging our attic space! It was at the top of our 2023 project list because it was becoming an overwhelming goliath that we just had to tackle. And as overwhelming as it was, it felt soooo good to get in there and finally […]
I hate to toot my own horn, but I'm a bit of a cookware connoisseur. Okay, I tend to be a connoisseur of most cooking supplies and tools, but today it's all about cookware. Despite sounding too cliche, I get a lot of questions about what my "actual" favorite cookware is... and the honest answer […]
It's been over one month since we surprised the girls with Cricket, and it's borderline sad how the time has flown by! As first-time puppy owners, we were given a lot of advice from experienced puppy people, many of who warned us that the puppy stage would be harder than a newborn baby. This could not be […]
Last week I mentioned how I desperately need some borrowed height in the kitchen, AKA a step-stool. We've made it this far without needing and using one because we don't store our day-to-day items out of reach! For those far and few in-between moments where we actually do need to reach up high, I usually […]
We had so much fun last year making over Andi's awkward living room, so when Kirkland's Home asked if we wanted to do another one-day makeover with their incredible new Spring Collection, we did not hesitate! We've been taking turns at the team's houses, and Becca's card was up – she just moved into a […]
The very first time Chris and I took a tour of this house, I was alarmed at the open sawtooth stringer on the staircase. There were too many jagged lines, and my eyes couldn’t handle it wrapping around the whole entry when you come in the house! This began the start of the staircase renovation, […]
In the world of grain-free eating, glass noodles are Heaven-sent. Not as a substitute, in my opinion. Meaning, I wouldn't necessarily suggest ladling a scoop of marinara over top with some Italian meatballs. But for the joy of eating a noodle, and an openness to try something new, this ingredients will quickly become a pantry […]
Over the years, I've gone on a journey with my skincare. I do a lot to keep my Hashimoto's at bay, but in 2019 my skin took a turn for the worst. It was partly due to the thyroid medication I have to take and also the fact that I have really dry skin. The […]
"Silver-white winters that melt into springs; these are a few of my favorite things!" There couldn't be a more perfect way to describe what I'm feeling right now (besides the snow part). Everything about this season we're in feels fresh but also like limbo! I'm still very much in the design phase of our 2023 […]
It's been one year since we had professional organizers come and work their magic in our house. Amidst newly moving and mid-renovation, the house was in disarray, so it's exactly what we needed at the time, and it lowkey changed our lives. I remember being emotional during their reveal because I didn't think I understood […]
Forecasting home design trends is a tricky business (for me) because I never want "trends" to be the focus of what we do at CLJ. Above all, we really value individuality and uniqueness and hope to inspire all of you to LOVE WHERE YOU LIVE, regardless of the trends that come and go. With all […]
We just set out to make our project list for the 2023 year, but before we tackle anything, we're pausing and admiring all that we accomplished in 2022. We're renovating this home because we're passionate about loving where you live. We love taking something and making it more beautiful and functional for our family and […]
The time has come to share our annual list of home projects we plan to do in 2023. Along with setting family goals, personal goals, and financial goals, Chris and I take the time to get on the same page regarding all the things we'd like to accomplish in the home! In 2022 we took […]
One tip I always give to any DIYer or home renovator is to take before, progress, and after pics. It's important to document the progress, even if you're not posting them anywhere, because celebrating the progress is crucial for keeping the momentum going! This post is all about the before and afters of every project […]
You all know I love sharing products I find to be life-changing, so to wrap up the year, I thought I would share a list of the best products of 2022! These are all things I find to be game-changers and use in my daily life. 1. Striped Pool Towels Whether you have a pool […]
This post was sponsored by Lowe's Home Improvement. A one stop shop for an entire renovation! Sigh (of joy and relief). The LAUNDRY ROOM IS FINISHED!! And we're excited to share our very last reveal of 2022. The laundry room was the only thing that made us second-guess this house during our house hunting last […]
I've shared a version of my caramel corn in the past, but since that time I've tweaked the recipe a tad and I really think it's become something out-of-this-world special. Especially considering that it's dairy free. Now, Jules is typically grain free. But every year around Christmas she asks me to make a batch of […]
With the end of the year right around the corner, Jules and I are in the home stretch of our 2022 home projects, which means the outdoor kitchen of my dreams is officially a wrap! Before After My biggest priority in this project was getting to use the most premium grilling products I've had my […]
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Welcome to our online community where we've posted home, DIY, style, renovations, and family since '09. Renovating our #cljmoderncottage in Idaho and headed for new adventures in Raleigh, NC. #cljfam #cljtransformations